Cynthia Yockey, A Conservative Lesbian

I have Charles Johnson’s blog, Little Green Footballs, in my newsfeed (look right) so that it is easy for me to keep an eye on his coverage of Creationism and Intelligent Design. As it happens, I have original correspondence and drafts supporting his recent denunciation of Melanie Phillips’ column in favor of Intelligent Design, which truly is re-branded religion, but he won’t have anything to do with me, which I assume is because it was my father’s work that was appropriated and distorted to start the Intelligent Design bushwa in the first place in spite of his explicit opposition. (My father is Hubert P. Yockey, for more info see the blog I started for him at www.hubertpyockey.com.) Oh, well, Charles, my door is open if you ever want to talk.

However, because I keep an eye on Charles and LGF, I found out about Joe the Plumber weighing in on the controversy on gay marriage this week in a post titled “Joe the Plumber speaks out against ‘Queers.’ “ Joe said:

I’ve had some friends that are actually homosexual. And, I mean, they know where I stand, and they know that I wouldn’t have them anywhere near my children. But at the same time, they’re people, and they’re going to do their thing.

I boldfaced the “area of concern,” as Rachel Lucas would say.

When I met Joe at CPAC, he was very kind and told me he enjoyed the remarks I made at the first Conservatism 2.0 meeting. His publisher’s booth was near Blogger’s Row and when I stopped to buy his book, Joe remembered me and made a point of searching out a copy he had not yet signed so he could do a special autograph for me. I do love the man and his do-right character. He is working hard to educate himself on the issues, which I respect. I am shocked that more hasn’t been done by the Republican Party and/or conservative organizations to bring him on board in a salaried position and get him up to speed. I think he has the potential to be an asset for the long haul.

I believe one day, because Joe is a “do right” man with an intelligent mind and a warm, valiant heart, he will see lesbians and gays as individuals when he is deciding whether we are suitable company for his children and make his decision on the basis of each individual’s character. Perhaps Joe will be like the TV character Andy Sipowicz from NYPD Blue, who was worried about letting his squad’s administrative assistant, whom he called “Gay John,” babysit for his young son. He asked around the squad and got good character references for John, and then did allow him to babysit because AS AN INDIVIDUAL, John was a good man who would never harm a child.

In real life, lesbians and gays may actually be better to children than straight people. We set up organizations to help teens who are homeless because their parents threw them out when they found out they were gay. We also adopt the children straight people have thrown away. We work for the right to adopt because the joys and challenges of raising children enrich one’s life. (I notice some religions seem to encourage their members to adopt in an effort to increase their numbers and their church’s power and wealth. However, there is no corollary motive for gays — we do not adopt for the purpose of increasing the numbers and power of the gay rights movement. ) Also, when we have life partners who have children, when we can be their children’s adoptive parents then the children have more security for life because they have another parent legally committed to them. And also, then we can pick the children up from school, manage their medical care and transport the children without risking being detained by police until our status in their life can be determined.

So, Joe, one day I hope you know enough about life, about people and about lesbians and gays to make decisions on us as individuals. However, until then, it’s over between you and me.

Update: I am so grateful to find this comment about Joe the Plumber’s anti-gay remark from Roger Simon, founder of Pajamas Media.